Resources

Food Programs

  • To find a meal hub location near you: Go to schools.nyc.gov. Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877.

    Children and families can pick up meals from 7:30am – 11:30am.

    Adults can pick up meals from 11:30am – 1:30pm.

    Meal hubs do not require registration, identification, or documentation. No one will be turned away.

    All 3 meals can be picked up at the same time, and caregivers can pick up meals on behalf of their children. No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten outside of meal hubs.

    Vegetarian and halal options are available at all sites.

  • NYC Food Delivery Assistance Resources If you cannot leave your home to get food, do not have anyone who can bring you food, and you are not able to use private delivery options, you may be eligible to get meals delivered directly to your home.

    Go to NYC.gov/GetFood or call 311 and say “Get Food” for information.

  • Here is list pantries and soup kitchens in Southeast Queens area for folks in need. Because local businesses and nonprofits are continually adjusting to new guidelines and the availability of resources, please call ahead to confirm with the individual organizations.

    Food Pantries and Soup Kitchen in SE Queens

  • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, helps people with limited income buy food. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores. Stores that accept SNAP are not allowed to set a minimum purchase amount to use the benefit.

    After you apply for SNAP, you will have to complete an eligibility interview and show the required documents.

    To find a Snap center near you, please use this tool.

  • For 35 years, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Food Bank for New York City takes a strategic, multifaceted approach that provides meals and builds capacity in the neediest communities, while raising awareness and engagement among all New Yorkers. Through its network of more than 1,000 charities and schools citywide, Food Bank provides food for more than 61 million free meals for New Yorkers in need.

Education

  • The Vaughn College Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is an academic and financial support program that helps students enroll in and succeed through graduation.  The program is a partnership between the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) and Vaughn College.  The target group is students who have the potential and desire to obtain a college degree, but because of academic and economic circumstances, would otherwise be unable to attend college.  Supportive services may include, but are not limited to: workshops, supplemental financial assistance, counseling, and tutoring in several subject areas.

    More information about the program is here: https://www.vaughn.edu/heop/

  • View all available free courses here

Mental Health

  • Domestic Violence Support

    NYC 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-621-HOPE

    Survivors of domestic violence may receive temporary housing, emergency shelter and supportive services for themselves and their children. All programs provide a safe environment as well as counseling, advocacy and referral services.

    Domestic violence and abuse can include:

    Hitting, slapping, kicking or using any other kind of physical violence against you

    Forcing you to have sex when you don’t want to, or to do sexual things you don’t want to do

    Threatening to hurt you, your children, or someone else you care about

    Constantly insulting and criticizing you

    Stalking, obsessively checking up on or otherwise trying to control your behavior

    If you or someone you know is experiencing this kind of behavior from a partner, please call

    New York City’s 24 hour Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-621-HOPE

  • Sanctuary For Families is New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence.

  • Domestic Violence Survivor Resource

    Face Book Live Workshop with Queens Legal Services.

    View the video

Employment

  • FAQ for Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

  • One Fair Wage are providing cash assistance to restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers and more who need the money they aren’t getting to survive.

    Sign-Up for Assistance here.

    The One Fair Wage campaign is fighting to end unjust sub-minimum wages in America.

    Under federal law, many service workers can be paid a sub-minimum wage. Tips are supposed to make up the difference, but they often don’t. And because of a policy that’s literally a holdover from the slavery era, our nations’ largest workforce of women of color work hard all day for pocket change. Futhermore, the growing workforce of app-based workers who are tipped live equally precarious lives as independent contractors. Which means when a crisis hits, and tips disappear, all of these workers have nothing to fall back on.

    To Support One Fair Wage, please donate  and sign this petition.

  • Benefits.gov is an online resource to help you find federal benefits you may be eligible for in the United States.

    Benefits.gov (formerly GovBenefits.gov) was one of the earliest “E-Government” initiatives to launch in 2002 as part of the President’s Management Agenda, and was established as the official benefits website of the U.S. government. Prior to Benefits.gov, citizens looking for government benefit information had to search through a complicated maze of web pages. There was no easy-to-use, single source of benefit information to help citizens understand which benefit programs they may be eligible for, or how to apply. Operated, managed, and supported by a Federal agency Partnership, Benefits.gov provides an innovative, technology-based solution to benefit information delivery. Today, millions of citizens have easy, online access to information from across multiple Federal agencies on Benefits.gov. The beneficiaries include U.S. citizens, businesses, and Federal and state government entities.

    Benefits.gov is a cross-governmental collaboration between multiple Federal agencies. Our Partner agencies share in the governance and strategic guidance of the Program, approve the features and enhancements to the site, provide the benefit program content, and contribute funding. The U.S. Department of Labor serves as the Managing Partner for Benefits.gov.

Business

Other Resources

  • Access HRA 

    To help stop the spread of COVID-19, many HRA locations are consolidating until further notice. If your needs cannot be met by ACCESS HRA, call 311 or consult the HRA Locations page for more information.

    HRA will provide financial assistance to individuals in need of assistance to meet qualifying funeral expenses. View the Application for Burial Allowance and find out more about what HRA will cover. Learn more about the application process below.

    Burial Allowance Applications and supporting documents may be submitted in person, or by email at BurialServices@hra.nyc.gov or by fax at 917-639-0476.

    • HRA

    • Cash assistance

    • No time limit on applications

    • Applications may be submitted online (preferable) or faxed. (HRA staff are in the office Wednesdays only).

    • Families will be contacted by a caseworker

    • Applications for undocumented persons will be accepted

  • Census data is used to extend billions of dollars in funding for hospitals, school lunch programs, Medicaid and resources that are needed every year, especially in uncertain times like now. Make sure everyone in your home is counted! FEDERAL FUNDING

    To be counted, self-respond online, over the phone or by paper questionnaire and make sure our community receives the funds we need to sustain our programs. It’s easy, safe and important!

    Here are three things you should know about the census:

    First, it is a complete count of the population living in the United States.

    Second, it determines the allocation of $675 billion in federal funds each year — for the next ten years. The results of the census determine how much in federal funding goes to schools, hospitals, and emergency services. It determines how much is spent on Pell grants for students going to college, along with other programs and services.

    Third, it determines how congressional and legislative districts are drawn.

    There are four ways to complete the census: by phone, by mail, online, or with a census taker. People can complete the census by phone at (844) 330-2020 or online at https://my2020census.gov/

    There are 3 ways people can complete the questionnaire:

    1) Online: This is the preferred method.  Simply go to my2020census.gov to fill out the questionnaire itself there.  It takes about 5 minutes.

    2) Phone: One can call 844-330-2020 to verbally go through the questionnaire.

    3) Mail: One can fill out the paper form and mail it in.